SHINE DENTAL – DEALING WITH ANXIETY

One of the support characters in film Little Shop of Horrors actually enjoyed going to the dentist. Other than the remake of the same film I can think of no other example of this attitude. But the extent of the fear seems unfounded. There are far more uncomfortable and painful experiences in life. We seem to have an instinctive reaction to the situation, poorly justified by some partial truths.

Psychological explanations for our dental anxiety vary. Some believe we have an instinct to keep out mouth and nose unblocked in order to facilitate breathing. We hate having to hold this natural desire in check by having our mouth examined, even as there is no legitimate threat. Traditional psychoanalysis saw the loss of teeth as symbolic of an emotional loss; though dentistry is really about having healthier teeth. Others believe we simply hate feeling vulnerable in the dentist’s chair.

We might expect there would be a positive way to exploit this type of fear. We might think that we would take good care of our teeth in order to avoid uncomfortable dental treatments later on. But this is not how human nature works. People who have an irrational fear often avoid thinking about the problem, and avoid any preventative measures. Exceptions occur, but we avoid brushing our teeth because dental issues are something we don’t want to think about. Of course this makes the problem worse.

Understanding the particular dental treatment and what it entails alleviates some people’s fears. Other people find meditation helpful. More than a few individuals respond to the smell of dental clinics, which is not really strange as smell is strongly connected to memory. In the end most people realize the dental visit doesn’t last long, and simply get it over and done with. Talking to the dentist is recommended for any particular issues.